Steele Jantz was one of the few Iowa State players who didn’t have a role in the team’s 41-7 dismantling of Texas Tech last season.

Instead, he sat on the sidelines and watched as his replacement, redshirt freshman quarterback Jared Barnett, gashed the Tech defense for 236 total yards and two touchdowns in his first career start.

It wasn’t the last solid performance for Barnett, who threw for 376 yards and rushed for 84 in a shocking upset of Oklahoma State a few weeks later.

With Barnett cruising, it seemed like Jantz — who had the starting job earlier in the season, then lost it after compounding his struggles during a four-game losing streak with a foot injury — was watching his chances to be the Cyclones starting quarterback slip away.

“It was hard,” said Jantz, whose regular season ended after throwing just four passes in a loss to Texas A&M last Oct. 22. “I’ve had injuries before — it’s been a long journey for me — but the hardest part was losing those four games and feeling like you had a chance to do something different.”

Now Jantz is eager for a second chance to do just that.

Though Barnett sizzled in several Big 12 appearances last season, he struggled mightily in Iowa State’s loss to Rutgers in the Pinstripe Bowl. Jantz came on in relief in that contest, creating enough doubt about the position for Iowa State coach Paul Rhoads to open up the quarterback competition during spring ball and fall practice.

Jantz won the job by showing he had improved as a runner and by making better decisions with the ball, traits he demonstrated throughout Iowa State’s non-conference schedule, which it finished 3-0 with wins against Tulsa and Iowa.

“It looks like (Jantz) gives them more balance running and making decisions,” Tech coach Tommy Tuberville said. “They run a lot of the option stuff where he reads tackles, reads ends. He’s not just a guy that hands it off. He makes a lot of decisions after the ball is snapped.”

In Iowa State’s offensive system under new offensive coordinator Courtney Messingham, who coached tight ends and receivers during his previous three seasons at the school, much is expected of the quarterback.

In addition to going through pass progressions, the signal-caller has to decide where to go on the zone-read option play — the Cyclones use it on about one-third of their run plays — whether that’s handing off, making the pitch outside or running it himself.

“It boils down to decision-making,” Jantz said. “The coach has to trust the quarterback in this offense.”

Jantz has been efficient as a passer, averaging 243 yards per game with six touchdowns and four interceptions. He’s part of a balanced rushing attack that also features James White (51.3 yards per game) and Shontrelle Johnson (55).

The goal for Iowa State’s offense is to control the ground game and, subsequently, the clock, relying on a defense — led by veteran linebackers Jake Knott and A.J. Klein — that hasn’t allowed a touchdown since the season opener.

“They are a very physical team,” Tuberville said. “They play hard. We are not going to come in and catch them flat-footed at all.”

Much like Texas Tech (3-0), Jantz and Iowa State are eager to prove success during non-conference play wasn’t a fluke. Fair or not, the winner of this game will likely enter the conversation as a Big 12 contender, with the loser ending the night with a mountain of doubt in its way.

Rhoads believes Jantz is ready to face such an atmosphere in his second season with the Cyclones.

“There’s no question he’s a better quarterback than he was a year ago,” Rhoads said. “He’s anxious to have this opportunity. I’m sure redemption is on his mind. He knows he did not play well against Big 12 competition last year. Like anything else, he anxious to go out there and prove a lot of people — who don’t know if he’s capable of that — wrong.”

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Doege looks to be a leader on and off the field. He will never have a better opportunity to succeed in the big 12 and continue to make a name for himself and will determine this teams identity. He runs browns offense to near perfection. It's going to be fun to watch as the competition gets better in the big 12 almost every week. Like Doege said " they take a backseat to no one in the big12" . That includes Texas and ou

who the real "players" are yet. This is when everyone starts knocking each other off and it will be interesting to see what it looks like once the dust starts to settle. Hopefully Tech will have a lot to say about it!

Look for Javon Bell, Jace Amaro, & Darrin Moore to have big games receiving the ball from Seth Doege. If Iowa St try to take away those threats they will have a problem with short passes, screens, & our draw plays. Remember Iowa St is more of a run threat than they are a passing threat but they are able to throw the ball with some consistancy. Look for Will Smith, Cody Davis, & Leon Mackey to step up on Defense & make BIG plays.

With the return of Knott and Klein, running the ball is probably going to be treacherous, at least at first. Thats where Amaro probably will be the difference. ISUs defense has other talent, but the key, it would seem is to soften these guys early using Amaro and slants to the little guys. I dont see Moore being a factor in this one until later in the game. If they can get the linebackers to float early on then maybe Williams and Stephens can get established to the point that Moore and Ward can start working the corners. In the end though, just like last year, we'll know early where we stand by our ability to (like last year) stop the run. Offense will take care of business, no doubt. If the #1 defense in the country can stop the ISU running game, their ability pass the ball on a consistent basis doesnt bother me. I went 38-28 Raiders in a previous thread. If we negate the linebackers, primarily Klein, and are able to hold their running game to under 150 or so, I think he margin could be much more impressive. But this is the week we've all been looking at since the spring. We lose big here, this is going to be a long season. We lose by a close margin, I think the OU game is still very winnable. We win here, especially big, this is going to be a very good year. Very pivotal for early in the season.

Thats my point, runnin. Im well aware of what we are. But this coaching staff is hell bent on running. Which is ok. Using the pass to open up the run to open up the pass. I think they call that balance, runnin, was my point.

but what i was referencing to is when you said "negate" the LBs. They are good run stopping options but they are suspect against the pass & more than likely will be lookin for more passing than running plays which will keep them on their heels so to speak. I understand what you posted im not slow

Maybe I misinterpreted what you said but im far from slow. Maybe you need to quit insulting people & learn to understand that no one's perfect (that includes you). You can be misunderstood or your statements can taken out of context. Just because you have a college degree that doesnt make you better than anyone in this world. I have 1 & im just as humble as I can be. I'll take that insult because I know you dont know me or what I've been through to get to where I am. I'm not going to exchange insults with you because im a "Grown Ass Man".

Man, runnin, Im sorry bro. I meant to say I DIDNT mean to imply you were slow. I understood your previous posts completely and you are far from slow and are a very good fan of our Red Raiders. I have no intention of starting anything like that with you. I also dont want to be seen as a pompous individual. My grandfather was one of the most intelligent, well read, and eloquent people I have ever known and he didnt finish high school. Again, I apologize.